Rennison, Louise. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. Harper Tempest, 1999. ISBN 0060288140. Ages 12-14.

In Georgia Nicolson’s journal, you’ll find out all sorts of things about this hilarious British teen. For instance, you’ll learn all about her wild cat Angus, her three-year-old sister who has a tendency to pee in Georgia’s bed, and her quest to learn all there is to know about kissing (snogging). And when Georgia’s friend Jas falls for a vegetable seller’s son, Georgia has loads to say about it, until she meets his older brother Robbie and subsequently dubs him “the sex god.” Soon Georgia is stalking Robbie’s “wet weed” of a girlfriend and stumbling through a couple of her own relationships before she realizes what she truly wants.

Schultz, John. (Director). (2011). Judy Moody [Motion picture]. United States: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Ages 9-12.

School is out and summer is finally here! But the excitement doesn’t last long for Judy Moody as she learns her two best friends are going away for the summer and her parents are leaving Judy and her brother Stink with their crazy Aunt Opal. There’s got to be a way to salvage this bummer summer! Then Judy comes up with a super contest to see who can have the most “thrilladelic” summer ever, but it’s hard to compete with one friend in Borneo and the other at circus camp. No matter... with Stink, Opal and her nerdy friend Frank, Judy discovers that the real thrills come from the unexpected experiences, as well as the people you share them with. Based on the series of books by Megan McDonald.

MacDonald, Betty. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. HarperCollins, 1947. ISBN 978-0064401487. Ages 9-12.

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, with her upside-down house and wild imagination, is the love of children everywhere. But it is the grown-ups who turn to her in their time of need to find the cures for all of their children’s bad habits—something only she seems to know how to do. Like other famous nanny characters, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is no-nonsense when it comes to certain things, and full of fun and imagination when it comes to others. Younger tweens will respond enthusiastically to her ability to balance discipline with entertainment, and parents will love the underlying message of each individual story.

McDonald, Megan. Judy Moody. Candlewick Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0763612313. Ages 9-10.

Judy Moody is starting third grade, and she is not in a good mood about it at all. She gets stuck next to the annoying boy who likes her and eats paste, she doesn’t have the right clothes, and her brother Stink is such a bother. But when her teacher asks each of the students to make a “Me” collage, Judy finds she has a lot to say about herself, and a lot to learn about others in the process. Like so many of the other spunky and unforgettable female characters created, Judy Moody is certainly unforgettable and McDonald has created a character that is both endearing and hilarious. Reluctant readers and those bridging the gap between transitional fiction and regular chapter books will enjoy the occasional illustrations and manageable chapter lengths as well.

Burton, Tim. (Director). (2005). Charlie and the Chocolate Factory [Motion picture]. United States: Warner Bros. Pictures. Ages 9-14.

Based on Roald Dahl’s classic story by the same name, this movie tells the story of a young boy named Charlie Bucket, a kind caring boy who has very little but who has a very big heart. When he and four obnoxious and spoiled children find golden tickets in their Wonka chocolate bars and win a tour of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, it is a dream come true. But the eccentric Wonka is unsympathetic when one by one, the children break the rules and lose out on the grand prize, leaving Charlie to take over the chocolate factory. And Charlie is able to give Wonka something back in return—a real family and reconciliation with his father.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory contains some violence and verbal insults from both Wonka and the Oompa-Loompas at the expense of the misbehaving and spoiled children and their parents. The film uses classic Burton style, pairing dismal blacks and grays with bright, colorful scenery, making his vision a perfect pairing with Dahl’s eccentric story. Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Wonka is first-class and stays true to the version of Wonka found in the text. While the film is entertaining, it does teach lessons about being humble and giving, not greedy and self-centered. The film is a wonderful companion to the book, and could be shown in both the age-appropriate classroom or in a library.

Lindgren, Astrid. Pippi Longstocking. Puffin Books, 1950. ISBN 978-0142402498. Ages 9-12.

When Pippi Longstocking returns from sea to live on her own at Villa Villekula, it is much to the delight of Tommy and Annike, who are taken to Pippi immediately. For while she may refuse to act and behave like a normal child, that is what makes her special. The three embark on many adventures, including avoiding policemen, going to school, climbing trees, and saving the day. There are very few characters that can live up to Pippi’s legacy, for she is certainly one of a kind. Though the book leans slightly in favor of girls, the gender neutral plots and wild adventures are sure to appeal to both boys and girls.

Holm, Jennifer L., and Holm, Matthew. Babymouse: Our Hero. Random House, 2005. ISBN 978-0375832307. Ages 9-11.

Babymouse has quite the imagination, and dreams of being everyone’s hero. But when she must face Felicia Furrypaws in a game of dodgeball, it is up to Babymouse to save the day and win one for the team. Holm has created an incredibly normal and imaginative character in Babymouse. Set in the form of a graphic novel, younger tweens will delight in reading about Babymouse’s great adventures and delve willingly into her wild schemes and daydreams. Readers will cheer her on as she fights to stay alive in a game of dodgeball, and ends up surprising herself with what she can accomplish—finally becoming the hero she dreamed of.

Dahl, Roald. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Knopf, 1964. ISBN 978-0375815263. Ages 9-12.

Poor Charlie Bucket wants more than anything to find a golden ticket in a Wonka bar, so that he can be one of the five to see Wonka’s magnificent chocolate factory. When he does, he is accompanied by four other naughty children who, one by one, lose their right to Wonka’s real intention—to find someone to replace him as the chocolate maker. Dahl’s is a tale of morals, and the consequences that must be paid when children are naughty and misbehave. But it is also a magical adventure into a world that is quite unlike anything children have ever experienced.

Davis, Andrew. (Director). (2003). Holes [Motion picture]. United States: Walt Disney Pictures. Ages 10-14.

The Yelnats family has been subject to bad luck ever since an ancient family curse fell upon them, and Stanley Yelnats IV is no stranger to it. Wrongfully accused of a crime he didn’t commit, Stanley is sent to Camp Green Lake where he and his fellow campmates must each dig one hole a day. Though the staff says that digging holes builds character, Stanley believes that they are actually digging for something. And when he finds it, all the pieces of the puzzle start to come together and generations of history rights itself as Stanley breaks the Yelnats curse. Based on Louis Sachar's Newbery medal-winning book.

Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Little, Brown and Company, 2007. ISBN 978-0316013680. Ages 12-14.

Amateur cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Though his intent is to get a better education, he endures prejudice and bullying both from the kids in the new school where he sticks out like a sore thumb and from the reservation he has chosen to abandon. Despite suffering through these circumstances as well as other personal tragedies, Junior finds solace and humor in his artwork, as well as basketball, and begins to make a life for himself. And in turn, he learns what it means to define his culture, instead of letting it define him.

Klise, Kate. 43 Old Cemetery Road: Dying to Meet You. Harcourt, 2009. ISBN 978-0152057275. Ages 9-12.

Best-selling children’s author Ignatius B. Grumply has a serious case of writer’s block, so he’s hoping that the house he’s renting at 43 Old Cemetery Road will give him the peace and quiet he needs to finally write another book. What he doesn’t expect is that the ghost of its original owner, Olive C. Spence, already occupies the house. As does a young boy named Seymour and his cat Shadow. Now how will Grumply ever get his book written? Perhaps all he needs is a little help from the only family he’s got. Written in the form of notes, letters and newspaper articles, this book is sure to have you laughing in no time!

Bosch, Pseudonymous. The Name of This Book is Secret. Little, Brown and Company, 2007. ISBN 978-0316113663. Ages 9-12.

Cass and Max-Ernest follow a trail of clues to discover what happened to a missing magician and his Symphony of Smells. Encountering danger and adventure everywhere they go, Cass and Max-Ernest must battle the evil Dr. L and Ms. Mauvais as they infiltrate the Midnight Sun Sensorium and Spa and save their classmate from a horrible death. But their investigations turn up far more clues than expected, and many more adventures lie in store for them in Pseudonymous Bosch’s exciting, and quirky, new series.

Sonnenblick, Jordan. Zen and the Art of Faking It. Scholastic, 2007. ISBN 978-0439837071. Ages 12-14.

When San Lee arrives in his new town, he decides he needs to invent a new identity in order to seem cooler than he really is. And to attract the attention of Woody, who might just be the girl of his dreams. Quite by accident, he decides to fool everyone into thinking he is a reincarnated mystic of Zen Buddhism. And for quite some time, it actually works! But lies have a funny way of turning on you when you least expect it, and when his whole persona blows up in his face, it is up to San to pick up the pieces and make things right with the ones he cares about.

Like most middle schoolers, San is just trying to fit in and find his identity. As an Asian kid in a small Pennsylvania town, he also wants to both fit in and stand out (in a good way, of course). Ironically, in his quest to fool others into believing that he is a Zen mystic, he actually learns quite a bit about himself and the person he wants to be. We also get a glimpse into San’s rocky home life; one that tweens will appreciate and identify with on many levels. Full of ancient wisdom and powerful life lessons, this book has much to offer to the tween population.

Stephens, Sarah Hines, & Mann, Bethany. Show Off. Candlewick Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0763645991. Ages 10-14.

AMAZE others by faking a fall or twirling a drumstick! INVESTIGATE the use of morse code or invisible ink! CREATE a catapult or silhouette portraits! EXPLORE the outdoors by predicting a rainstorm or building a dam! COOK up some homemade fortune cookies or a Jell-O city! MOVE by freezing your own ice rink or rigging a zipline! Learn how to do all 224 of these awesome tricks and activities with Show Off's simple step-by-step instructions.

Russell, Rachel Renee. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life. Aladdin, 2009. ISBN 978-1416980063. Ages 9-12.

Nikki Maxwell wants more than anything to be a part of the CCP (Cute, Cool & Popular) group at her new school, Westchester Country Day. But it’s hard to do when your clothes are all wrong, your parents won’t buy you the new iPhone, and you feel invisible. Well, that and the only reason she’s at this fancy private school is because her dad is the school’s exterminator. So things start to look up when the school announces its annual Avant-Garde art show, and Nikki is sure she’ll be popular once she wins the contest. What she doesn’t expect is the most popular (and mean) girl on campus to enter the contest as well, and make her life miserable! With the help of some new friends and a new crush, Nikki manages to make a name for herself, even if it means embracing her inner dork. Written in the style and spirit of Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Russell’s Dork Diaries will make you want to embrace your inner dork as well.

Howe, James. The Misfits. Atheneum Books, 2001. ISBN 0689839553. Ages 10-14.

Sticks and stones may break our bones, but names will break our spirit. So goes the theme of the No Name Party, a team of misfits who set out to change the face of middle school by running as a third party for student office so that they can stop others from calling people names and putting them down. Addie, the “know-it-all,” along with the help of Skeezie, the “loser,” Joe, the “fairy,” and Bobby, the “fatso,” take on the school with their radical ideals, and end up uniting the student body in a way no one ever expected.

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2007. ISBN 978-0810993136. Ages 9-13.

Greg Heffley is a not so popular seventh grader whose mother gives him a journal (NOT a diary). Readers follow Greg through the school year as he and his best friend Rowley scheme and barrel through one adventure after another. But when Greg and Rowley decide not to be friends anymore, Greg realizes he is left with only one unbearable choice for a replacement. Young readers will love this "novel in cartoons," and can continue the journey in Kinney's sequels as well as with the recent release of the film version.